Collapsible drum



-A. D CONVERSE COLLAPSIBLE'DRUM, APPLICATION men AUG-Z6; 1920.

Patented May 3,1921.

Incenton Ian D. Con

Athei; v J3 YW MM 5 PATENT OFFICE.

ATHERTON D. CONVERSE, 0F W INQHENDON, MASSACHUSETTS.

GOLLAPSIBLE DRUM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Application filed August 26, 1920. Serial No. 406,091.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ATHERTON D. CoN- vnRsn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of WVinchendon, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Drums, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to drums and more particularly to ones which are of a collapsible nature.

The object of my invention is to provide a drum, suitable for the use of children or expert musicians which may be taken apart readily and packed for shipment in a small package.

Another object is to provide a drum which while capable of being knocked down, will be rigid and secure when properly assembled.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an instrument of the type described capable of being readily knocked down, and assembled into a rigid structure without a multiplication of parts or complication of essential details, and one which will be simple and cheap to manufacture.

My invention consists in a drum having a collapsible barrel, retaining rings holding the barrel structure rigid and the usual drum heads and stay hoops.

My invention further consists in the novel arrangement, construction and combination of parts herein described and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings showing one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through one drum head of an assembled drum constructed after this invention.

Fig. 2 is a dismantled view of a portion of the barrel and retaining ring.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the barrel joint.

Referring now to the drawing 1 is the drum barrel constructed of a flat sheet of metal rounded into the desired form. One of its narrow edges is folded backwardly and then forwardly upon the first fold as at 2 which forms a recess into which the other narrow edge fits. This makes a temporary joint holding the barrel in place until the retaining rings are placed in position. Retaining rings 3 are made from sheet metal round the barrel.

One means of fastening the rings 3 to the barrel 1 is shown to consist of a cut out tang 4 bent inwardly engaging with a slot 5 in the barrel. Thus when the barrel is held by the joint 2 and the ring 3 is placed upon the edge of the barrel, the tang engages the slot and effectively forms a rigid structure of the barrel.

The usual drum heads are shown at 6 fittlng over the barrel 1 and held in place by stay hoops 7 provided with a plurality of openings 8 through which cord 9 passes adapted to draw hoops 7 toward each other and thereby firmly stretch the heads over the rounded edges of retaining rings 3.

It will be seen that in order to dismantle the drum, cord 9 is loosened and the hoops and heads removed in the usual manner. By pressing on the barrel immediately beneath the slots 5 the tangs 4 will become disengaged therefrom and rings 3 may be readily removed. Upon disengaging the ends of the barrel it may be unrolled and packed flat for shipment.

It will also be seen that in order to unroll the barrel it is necessary that its longest edges be in an unbent condition, for if it were provided with the usual rolled edge, this would prevent an unrolling action from taking place.

The turned over edge of the ring 3 serves the purpose of providing a smooth surface over which the drum heads may be tightly drawn and together with tangs 1, positions rigidly the entire ring on the barrel.

It will be readily apparent that other means of fastening the retaining rings to the barrel will occur to those skilled in the art and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the method and means shown and described as this is a minor detail and not a fundamental part of the invention.

What I claim is 1. A collapsible drum comprising a onepiece barrel, said barrel being formed of a sheet of material rolled into shape, the ends of which are secured to each other, a barrel retaining ring mounted externally upon the end of said barrel to prevent said barrel from op g, a d um head mounted upon said retaining means, and a stay hoop engaging the drum head.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the retaining ring is provided With means to lock itself to the barrel.

3. The device of claim 1, said retaining ring having a rolled upper edge.

4. In a drum the combination of a barrel, means to retain the barrel in a circular shape and means on the retaining means c06perat- 10 ing With means on the barrel to lock the retaining means in place.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

ATHERTON D. CONVERSE. 

